Submitted by Lea:

Spring is one of my son’s favorite times. After a long cold winter, we look forward to spring fun like our long morning walks (weather permitting, of course – those spring storms don’t always make it easy!), time at the playground, and fun in the backyard sandbox. Bath days are his favorite days in the spring, because those are the days that he gets to go outside and get as muddy as he wants without getting yelled at by Mom!

Last year was the first year that he was old enough to really enjoy the time outside. We purchased one of those bubble kits that can create the really big bubbles, and Dad and I drew out some gigantic ones that he could chase across the yard. We even figured out, thanks to the instructions, how to blow little bubbles inside the big bubbles with a little bubble wand and the large bubble circle. A word to anyone thinking about doing this: not all dogs are friendly to bubbles in their yard. You might want to test bubbles on your dog before launching into a full-fledged bubble blowing session. Our son was so disappointed on the first day when we had to pack up after just a few minutes because the dog went bonkers. Luckily, we found leaving her inside with a huge rawhide chew would distract her successfully for enough time to get a lot of bubbles blown!

We also did a lot of hiking last spring. At first, we took him along in the backpack carrier…there were a lot of questions coming from up above about the trees, birds, and other nature that he was seeing from that vantage point! It was a great opportunity to get him in touch with the great outdoors, and we learned a lot too. Any question that we didn’t know the answer to, we would research on the Internet when we returned home. We found an amazing site that would help identify a plant just based on the descriptive characteristics. We started taking home some of the leaves and flowers originally to help us look them up online, but we ended up saving them and making a scrapbook of them throughout the hiking season. It was a great way to look back on the summer months when winter hit.

This spring, we’re looking forward to expanding our outdoor experiences. We’ve already purchased a kiddie fishing pole, and we’re looking forward to test driving that… plus, our son finally has large enough hands for his own ball glove! Swing, batter, swing!

National Wildlife Refuges around the country are planning special events in mid April to mark the 39 th annual celebration of Earth Day. The activities, timed to coincide with the March equinox, are meant to build awareness of the fragility of the earth’s environment and what ordinary people can do to help conserve and protect our natural resources.

Earth Day is celebrated at many of the country’s more than 550 national wildlife refuges, which are dedicated to the protection of our natural habitat and the many creatures that depend on it for survival. Many refuges conduct year round environmental education programs. There is a national wildlife refuge within an hour’s drive of most major cities.

The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world’s premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife and plants.
Here is a sampling of 2009 Earth Day events on National Wildlife Refuges. For more information on events in your area, visit www.fws.gov/refuges and click on visitors.

Saturday, April 11
Earth Day Litter Pickup
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Cambridge, Md.
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Join in the refuge’s annual litter pickup of the roads around the refuge, and enjoy drinks and snacks, compliments of the nonprofit Friends of Blackwater. Individuals, families and groups are welcome. Meet at the Blackwater Visitor Center.
Contact: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 4102282677
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/blackwater

Saturday, April 18
Earth Day Cleanup and Hike
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Oceanville, N.J.
8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Join refuge staff and the Township of Galloway for a cleanup along the refuge’s Wildlife Drive. Then go for a short nature walk led by naturalists. Activities are free, but you must preregister: 609-748-1535.
A light lunch will be served. Rain date: Sunday, April 19.
Location: 800 Great Creek Road, Oceanville, N.J.
Contact: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge at 6097481535
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe

Saturday, April 18
Earth Day Litter Pickup and Bicycle Tour
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Folkston, Ga. East
Entrance
8 a.m. – noon
Join in a cleanup of the refuge and adjacent Highway 121. Then take off on a bicycle tour of Swamp Island Drive. Enjoy staffed exhibits and demonstrations along the way about wildlife, plants, wildland fire, fishing, nature photography, swamp culture, hiking, bicycling, recycling and more. Discover some of the amazing plants and animals found in the refuge. Create nature crafts, see live animals and get a free bicycle safety check. Find out what local organizations do in your community. Learn about what you can do to help protect the earth.
Contact: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 9124967836.
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee

Saturday, April 25
Earth Day Volunteer Day
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Seymour, Ind.
9 a.m. 4p.m.
Join in a cleanup of the refuge. Then move on to other hands on
projects for all ages. Among these: improving hiking trails and removing invasive garlic mustard.
Contact: Donna Stanley at 8125224352
or via email Muscatatuck@fws.gov
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/muscatatuck

Saturday, April 25
Earth Day Boating Tours, Butterfly Viewing and Fishing Lessons
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
Dayton, Texas
11 a.m. 2p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon of free outdoor activities, hosted by the refuge and the nonprofit Friends of Trinity River Refuge, at the Champion Lake Public Use Area. Activities will include canoeing, kayaking and boating tours? bird and butterfly viewing? walking the levee trail? and dip netting and fishing lessons in the lake for the kids. You may want to bring a lawn chair, as seating is limited.
Location: Champion Lake is located at the end of CR 417, two miles east of FM 1409 in
southern Liberty County. This is approximately 10 miles south of Dayton, Texas, from Hwy 90
or about six miles north of I10
at the Cove exit (FM 565).
Contact: Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge at 9363369786
For more information about the refuge: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/trinityriver

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit <www.fws.gov>